Combination folder for printing press



June 25, 1957 c. s. CRAFTS COMBINATION FOLDER FOR FRIN'I'IIIGv PRESS 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed mine 15, 1953 June 25, 1957 c. s. CRAFTS 2,797,085 2 I ,COMBINATION FOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESS Filed Jun 15." 19 53 I a Sheets-Sheet 2 I v CURTIS S.CRAFTS QW M-+7k% d-r-roruuzyr June 25, 1957 c. s. CRAFTS 2,797,085

COMBINATION FOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESS Filed June 15, 1953 v 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 i lH/ r/i CURTIS S. CRAFTS W 712%.

TTOFUOEY/ S Sheets-Sheet 4 C. S. CRAFTS wk 00. uo \vW wk. M *N/W-T wk r wk Lri R m C mm 4 mz Q T ow Q: 3 5 1 k s j wmm C I. fl pm 3 W COMBINATION FOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESS June 25; 1957 Filed June 15, 1953 June 25, 1957 c. s. CRAFTS 2,797,035

COMBINATION FOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESS Filed June 15, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 mch Cuans S. CRAFTS June 25, 1957 c. s. CRAFTS 2,797,035

COMBINATION FOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESS Filed June 15, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 WW CURTIS $.CRAFTS United States Patent COMBINATION FOLDER FOR PRINTING PRESS Curtis S. Crafts, Oak Park, 111., assignor to Miehle-Goss- Dexter, Incorporated, Wilmington, Del, a corporation of Delaware Application June 15, 1953, Serial No. 361,633

9 Claims. (Cl. 2'7065) This invention relates to printing presses and more particularly to folders for use with rotary web presses.

An object of the invention is to provide a folder having improved means for adjusting the number of folds made in the printed products delivered by the folder. In particular it is an object of the invention to provide an improved folder having adjustable means whereby either two or three folds may be made in the products.

Another object is to provide a folder which may be adjusted to make either two or three folds, but which nevertheless may utilize cutting and folding cylinders, folding rollers, and other parts which are interchangeable with corresponding components employed on conventional two stage folders, not having the feature of adjustability.

A further object is to provide an adjustable folder in which certain of the folding parts are mounted on two swing frames which are forked and thereby adapted to straddle fixed supporting members.

It is another object of the invention to provide a folder having a delivery fly or the like which may be moved away from its operative position adjacent a folding mechanism in order to permit movement of the latter to an alternative position in which it will feed its products into an additional folding mechanism. A more particular object in this regard is to provide means whereby the delivery fly will be moved automatically away from and into its operative position as an incident to movement of the first-mentioned folding mechanism between its two alternative positions.

.Further objects and advantages of the inventionwill appear from the following description, taken with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure l is a diagrammatic perspective view of an exemplary folder embodying the invention and adapted to make either two or three folds in printed products, as desired, the folder being shown in a position for making two folds. In this view, the mechanism for making the third fold is omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the folder of Fig. l in a position for making three folds, certain of the parts employed when only two folds are to be made being omitted for clarity of illustration.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational sectional View taken from the rear of the folder generally along a line 3-3 in Fig. 5, a portion of therear main frame being broken away. In this view a cross folding mechanism is shown in the position for making three folds.

Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 3 with the folder adjusted to the position for making only two folds.

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken from the side of the folder, generally along a line.5-5 in Fig. 3, the folder being adjusted for making three folds.

Fig. 6 is a partly diagrammatic and partly sectional,

of the lower swing frame, delivery fly and associated components.

While the invention is susceptible of various modifications and alternative constructions, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail the pre ferred embodiment, but it is to be understood that it is not thereby intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed, but it is intended to cover all equivalents, modifications and alternative constructions falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

The illustrative folder, as shown in the drawings, preferably comprises a conventional former 20 (Fig. 1) adapted to produce a lengthwise initial fold in a printed web W received from a printing press. It will be understood that the term web, although employed, for convenience, in the singular, is intended to embrace two or more superimposed webs associated in the usual manner. After passing over the former 20, the longitudinally folded web W runs between a pair of conventional nip rollers .22 and then is creased in passing between web drawing rollers 23. These rollers 22 and 2.3 are journaled at their opposite ends on front and rear main frames 24 (Figs. 3 and 5) of heavy skeletal construction. According to the ordinary usage, the term front is applied to the web supply end of the press, and to the corresponding end of the folder, the term rear being applied to the end of the folder remote from the web supply.

Provision is made for cutting the folded web W into products P and folding each product a second time at right angles to the first fold. To this end, the folder is provided with a cutting cylinder 28 and an adjacent cross folding cylinder 30, the web W being led between thesecylinders after passing between the web drawing rollers 23. The folding cylinder 30 may have a diameter twice that of the cutting cylinder 28 and may be driven by con ventional gearing at one-half the angular speed of the cutting cylinder.

Conventional cutting elements may be provided on the cylinders 28 and 30, including a longitudinal cutting knife 32 (Fig. 6) on the cutting cylinder and 'two diametrically arranged cutting abutments 34 on the folding cylinder. Two sets of conventional cam operated impaling pins 36 may be mounted on the folding cylinder 30 in closely trailing relation to the respective cutting abutments 34.

After the web W has been cut off by the cutting elements 32 and 34, the severed leading edge of the web is taken by the pins 36 and carried part way around the folding cylinder 30. Two conventional rotary folding blades 38 are mounted on the folding cylinder 30 and are disposed approximately 90 degrees behind the respecing rollers 40 by one of the folding blades 38. The latter may be driven for this purpose by conventional means. In the usual manner, the impaling pins 36 are withdrawn to release the product P from the folding cylinder 30.

Provision is made for adjusting the folder so that the products P may be given either two or three folds. To this end, the cutting cylinder 28 and the folding rollers 40 are carried by front and rear upper swing frames 42 (Figs. 3 and 5 for movement about the center of the cylinder 30 so as to change the direction in which the twice-folded product P is discharged.

In accordance with the present invention, the construction of the folder is such that the cutting and folding cylinders 28 and 30 and the folding rollers 40 may be interchangeable with similar components employed on conventional two stage folders not having the swing framesand the swing adjustment feature. In this way, the extra cost of special parts may be avoided. To this end,.the main.

frames 24 are arranged to provide openings44 adapted to be occupied by the upper swing frames 42 and to allow movement of the latter through an angle of approximately 90 degrees. The folding cylinder 30 is provided with a shaft 46 journaled in fixed sleeve bearingsor bushings 48 which are mounted in rigid dependingarms 50 formedon the main frames 24 so as to project downwardly into-the openings 44. The upper swing frames 42-are of -forked construction so as to straddle the arms 50 and be supported on oppositesides of each main frame 24. Thus,eacl1 upper swing frame 42 is formed with .an inner fork, in the form of a body plate or arm 52, and an outer fork, in the form of a detachable plate. 54 which may be bolted or otherwise secured to the body plate 52. The plates 52 and 54 are apertured to receive respective bearings 56'and' 57 carried by the folding cylinder bushing 48 on the inner and outer sides of each main frame 24. The cutting cylinder-28 has a shaft 58 journaled in bearings 60carried by the upper swing frames 42.

Provision is made for adjusting the positions of theupper swing-frames 42. To this end, respective sector gears 62 are mounted on the body plates 52 of the swing frames 42. Meshing with the gears 62 are respective pinions 64 fixed to a shaft 66 which is journaled in the two main frames 24. A worm drive 68, having a manually operable square headed worm shaft 70, is connected to the rear end of the shaft 66 and is mounted in an accessible position on the rear main frame 24. By manually rotating the worm. shaft 70, the upper swing frames 42 are movable between the positions shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In the position shown in Fig. 4, the twice folded product P is discharged downwardly from the foldingrollers 40, but, in the position shown in Fig. 3, the product is discharged horizontally. To hold the upper swing frames 42 in either of these two positions, each of the swing frames is provided with an apertured lug 72 engageable with either of two angularly spaced pads 74 and 75 formed on the main frames 24. Cap screws 76 may be inserted through the lugs 72 and threaded into the pads 74 and 75 in order to hold the swing frames 42 in either position.

When the upper swing frames 42 are positioned for downward discharge of the products P (Fig. 4), the cut ting cylinder 28 is disposed at one side of the folding cylinder 30, and the web W may run directly from the. web drawing rollers 23 to'the nip of the cylinders 28.-and.

30. For the other position of the upper swing frames 42 (Fig. 3), the cutting cylinder 28 is positioned below the folding cylinder 30, and the web W is trained around a guide roller 77 in passing from the web drawing rollers 23 to the cylinders 28 and 30. The roller 77 is journaled in the main frames 24. The folding rollers 40 are journaled in respective levers 78 mounted in pairs on each of the upper swing frames 42 by means of pivot studs 80. A suitable mechanism 82 is provided to apply an adjustable amount of pressure between the folding rollers 40-,

It will be apparent from Fig. that the upper swing frames 42 are disposed in the openings 44 in the main frames 24, as previously indicated, and are lined up longitudinally with respect to the main frames 24. In particu-' lar, the cutting cylinder bearings 60 are lined up with the folding cylinder bushings 48. Thus, the spacing between the swing frames is substantially the same as between the main frames. Asa result, the 'cutting and folding parts such as the folding cylinder 30, the cutting cylinder 28 and the folding rollers 40 may be the samein length and other characteristics as the corresponding components of conventional, non-adjustable two stage folders. The-extra cost of -special cutting and folding parts is thereby avoided.

As shown in Fig. 5, each cutting cylinder bearing'60 is or canted out of line.

substantially centered with respect to the adjacent swing frame bearings 56 and 57 and folding cylinder bushing 48. Moreover, the swing frames 42 themselves, are substantially centered relative to the respective bearings 56 and 57. As a result, the bearing loads on the bearings 56 and 57 will be substantially equal, and there will be substantially no tendency for the swing frames to be twisted The forked construction of the swing frames 42 provides a pivotal mounting of greatly enhanced rigidity.

Provision is made for delivering the twice folded products P when the upper swing frames 42 are in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. To this end, the folder is provided with a delivery mechanism including a rotary delivery fly 84 (Fig. 6), comprising a series of axially spaced discs 86 having pockets 88 for receiving the products P from the folding rollers 40. The discs 86 are fixed to a shaft 90.

In accordance with the invention, provision is made for changing the position of the fly 84, according to the position of the upper swing frames 42, so that the fiy may occupy an operative position immediately adjacent the folding rollers 40, when the'upper swing frames 42 are positioned so that the products P will be discharged from the folding rollers into the fiy, or may occupy an outof-the-way, inoperative position when the swing frames 42 are swung to their other position, in .which the twice folded products are discharged to one side. When the delivery mechanism is in the operative position for downward discharge of products P (Fig. 3), fly 84 is close to the folding rollers 40 and the products will be deposited positively in pockets 88. When products are to be discharged to the side (Figs. 4 and 6), the fly 84 must be swung downward to provide room for cutting cylinder 28 and in this position the fly is inoperative.

In the illustrated construction, the fly shaft 90 is journaled. at its opposite ends in front and rear lower swing frames 92 pivoted on a shaft 94 extending between the front and rear main frames 24, the lower swing frames being carried on the shaft just inside the main frames. To drive the fly 84, the front end of the fly shaft 90 is fitted with a gear 96 meshing with an idler gear 98 which is rotatably mounted on the front lower swing frame 92 and meshes in turn with another idler gear 100 mounted on the front end of the pivot shaft 94. By means of suitable gearing, the. gear 100 may be connected to the drive for the cutting and folding cylinders 28 and 30.

Any of the components usually associated with a rotary fly may be mounted on. the lower swing frames 92. In the illustrated construction, for example, a set of guide shoes 102 (Fig. 7) anda rockable kicker arm 104 are mounted on the lower swing frames -92, the kicker arm being-actuated fromthe fly shaft 90 by any suitable means.

Provision is made for moving the lower swing frames 92 in common with the upper swing frames 42. For this purpose, an operating connection is established between the upper and lower swing frames 42 and 92 by means of a pair of links 106 (Fig. 6) connected between the outer or free ends of the upper and lower frames. The links 106 are arranged to permit lost motion of the upper swing frames 42 relative to the lower swing frames 92, and accordingly are provided with longitudinal slots 108 adapted to receive a pivot shaft 110 extending between the lower swing frames 92. At their upper ends, the links 106' are simply apertured to receive a shaft 112 extending between the upper-swing frames 42 adjacent the cutting cylinder 28. To adjust the positions of the lower swing frames 92, a stop screw 114 is threaded longitu dinally into the lower end of each slot 108. Formed on each of the lower swing frames 92 is an upwardly facing I abutment surface 116 adapted to engage a downwardly facing surface 118 on the corresponding upper swing frame 42, when the latter is in the position shown in Fig, 4. Upwardly extending side plates 120 may be mounted on the outer sides of the lower swing'frames 92 aromas in position to engage the outer sides ofthe upper swing frames 42 and thereby insure accurate lateral positioning of the lower swing frames.

When only two folds are desired, the upper swing frames 42 will be set in the position shown in Figs. 1 and 4, with the cutting cylinder 28 raised to the level of the folding cylinder, and the folding rollers 40 directed downwardly so as to discharge the products P into the fly 84. The lower swing frames 92 will be supported by the links 106 with the surfaces 116 and 118 in engagement, and the fly 84 disposed immediately below the folding rollers 40.

When a third fold is desired, the upper swing frames 42 will be rotated through 90 degrees to swing the cutting cylinder 28 downwardly to a position below the folding cylinder 30, the folding rollers 40 being swung upwardly to the level of the folding cylinder 30. As the upper swing frames 42 are thus rotated, the links 106 will permit the lower swing frames 92 to be lowered by their own weight until they come to rest in the out-of-the-way position shown in Fig. 6. The lost motion slots 108 permit further lowering of the upper wing frames 42. The lowering of the lower swing frames 92 moves the fly 84 out of the way of the cutting cylinder 28.

To receive the products P from the fly 84, a delivery 122 may be provided, including a plurality of spaced endless conveyor belts 124 disposed immediately below the fly 84, when the latter is in its raised or operative position. Thebelts 124 may be staggered relative to the fly discs 86 so that the latter may be lowered into the spaces between the belts when the upper and lower swing frames 42 and 92 are swung to the third fold position.

Provision is made to fold the products P a third time. For this purpose, the folder is provided with a third or quarter page fold mechanism 128 (Fig. 2), adapted to receive the products P from the delivery rollers 40 when the latter are swung upwardly for horizontal discharge of the products. In itself, the third fold mechanism 128 may be of any suitable construction, illustrated as comprising two sets of pulleys 130 and 132 for receiving the twice folded products P from the folding rollers 40, and advancing the products onto a horizontal table 134 having a slot or opening 136 in its center. Overlying the table is a folding cylinder 138 having a rotary folding blade 140 adapted to fold the products P downwardly through the slot 136 and into the nip of a pair of folding rollers 142. Beneath the folding rollers is a rotary fly 144 which receives the products from the folding rollers and deposits them on a delivery 146.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a folder, the combination comprising a fol-ding mechanism, means supporting said mechanism for movement between first and second positions in which products folded by said mechanism will be discharged in first and second directions, a delivery device for receiving the products from said folding mechanism when the latter is in its first position, means supporting said delivery device for movement between a first position adjacent said folding mechanism and a second position more remote therefrom, and means for conjointly moving said folding mechanism and said delivery device between their respective first and second positions.

2. In a folder, the combination comprising a cross folding mechanism, means supporting said mechanism for movement between first and second positions in which products folded by said mechanism will be discharged in first and second directions, said mechanism having a holding component and a cutting component which aredisposed in substantially the same location when the mechanism is in its first and second positions, respectively, a delivery mechanism for receiving the products from said folding component when the mechanism is in its first position, means for moving said delivery mechanism between an operative position closely adjacent said location and an inoperative position more remote therefrom, clearance 6 being afforded in said inoperative position for movement of said cutting component to said location as the mechanism is moved to its second position and additional folding means for receiving and folding the products from said cross folding means when the latter is in its second position.

3. In a folder, the combination comprising a rotatable folding cylinder, a movable folder frame mounted for pivotal movement between first and second positions and about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of said folding cylinder, cutting and folding elements mounted on said folder frame for swinging movement therewith so that products folded thereby will be discharged in two different directions with the folder frame in its first and second positions, a delivery fly for receiving the products from said folding cylinder when said folder frame is in its first position, a swingable delivery frame support-ing said fly for movement between an operative position closely adjacent said folder frame and an inoperative position more remote therefrom, and means connecting said folder frame .to said delivery frame for moving the latter between its operative and its inoperative positions when the folder frame is moved between its first and second positions, clearance thereby being afforded for movement of said folder frame and the elements carried thereby.

4. In a folder, the combination comprising a rotatably mounted folding cylinder, a sw-ingable folder frame mounted for pivotal movement between first and second positions about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of said folding cylinder, cutting and folding elements mounted on said folder frame for swinging movement therewith so that products folded thereby will be discharged in two different directions with the folder frame in its first and second positions, a delivery fly for receiving the products from said folding cylinder when said folder frame is in its first position, said fly comprising a plurality of spaced pocketed discs, a swingable delivery frame supporting said fly for movement between an operative position immediately below said folder frame and an inoperative position a substantial distance below said folder frame, a delivery conveyor comprising a plurality of spaced belts immediately below said operative position of said fly, said discs being staggered relative to said belts so that said discs may be lowered between said belts when said fly is moved to said inoperative position, means forming a lost motion connection between said folder frame and said delivery frame for moving the latter between i-ts operative and its inoperative positions when the folder frame is moved between its first and its second positions, clearance thereby being afforded for movement of said folder frame and the elements carried thereby, and means for receiving the products from said cutting and folding elements when the folder frame is in its second posit-ion.

5. In a folder, the combination comprising a pair of spaced main frames, a folding cylinder journaled on said frames, a pair of swing frames disposed adjacent said main frames, means carrying said swing frames for pivoting movement about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of said folding cylinder, and a plurality of cutting and folding parts monuted between said swing frames and including a cutting cylinder disposed adjacent said folding cylinder and journaled on said swing frames, said main frames having respective openings, and said swing frames being disposed in said openings and lying substantially in the same planes as said respective main frames, 'whereby the distance between the journals for said folding cylinder is substantially the same as the distance between the journals for said cutting cylinder.

6. In a folder, the combination comprising a pair of spaced main frames, a folding cylinder journaled on said frames, a pair of swing frames pivotally mounted adjacent the opposite ends of said folding cylinder for swinging movement about an axis coinciding with the rotary axis of said folding cylinder, each of said swing frames having-a :forked portion straddling one of said main framesiand comprising a-pair of memberspivotally supported on opposite'sides-o'f said main f-rame, and-a 'plurality:oflcuttingandfoldingparts mounted between said swing frames and including a cuttingcylinder-disposed adjacent said folding cylinder and journaled on said swing frames, said;main frames having-openings for receiving those portions-of said swing frames which are intermediate said forked portions, whereby such intermediate portions aredisposed in substantially=the same planesas therespective main frames, and the distances between the journals for said-folding and cutting-cylinders are substantial'ly equal. a

7. In a folder, the'combination comprising a pair of spaced mainframes, respective bushings'mounted in said main frames a folding'cylinder having a shaft journaled at its opposite endst in said bushings, -a pair of swing frames pivotally-mounted 'for swinging movement about \anaxis coinciding with the axis of rotation of said folding cylinder xsaid swing frames having forked portions straddling said =main frames and comprising respective pairs of members pivotally mounted on said bushings onopposite sides of sa'id main frames, and a plurality of cutting and folding parts mounted between said swing frames and including a cutting cylinder disposed adjacent said folding cylinder and journaled in said swing frames.

8. Mechanism for optionally producing either two or three folds in products out from'a continuous web, said mechanism comprising, in combination, a first folding device for receiving said web and creasing it longitudinally; a second folding device for receiving the creased web fromsaid first folding-device and including a folding'cylinder, a cutting cylinder, and folding rollers; said web being cut transversely into lengths which are folded transversely by said second device upon delivery from said-folding rollers; first adjustable means carrying said cutting cylinder and folding rollers for bodily movement between first and second angular positions around the periphery of said folding cylinder whereby said trans versel-y folded lengthsare discharged in one of two direotions; a delivery mechanism for-receiving th'e twice folded products-when discharge :of the flatter from said foldi ng rollersis in afirst of said two directions, a third folding device formebeiving the twice folded products and impartinga'third -fold thereto when dischargeithereof is in the second of said two directions;second adjustable means carrying said delivery mechanism for bodily movement between firstand-second positions in which-said delivery mechanism is operatively adjacent-and inoperatively remote from said cutting cylinder; and meansdnterconnecting said first and-second adjusting means for moving one of said adjusting means to its first or-second'position as an incident to the movement of the other-to 'its'fir-st-or second position, I respectively.

9. In a folder, the combinationcomprising a first folding mechanism including a part adjustable between first and second positions -to discharge folded products in either first or second directions, a second folding-mechanism for imparting an additional fold to products discharged in said first direction, a'delivery-mechanismforreceiving products discharged in the said second direction, movable mounting means for said delivery mechanism for adjusting =the latter between positions relatively adjacent to and remote from-said-firstfoldingmechanism, and means operativeaon said mounting meansfor retracting saiddeliverymechanism :fromvthefirst folding mechanism as an incident to adjustment of said part to its first position.

ReferencesCited in the, file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,435,881 Faeber Feb. 10, 1948 2,540,971 Wagner eta]. .Feb. 6, 195.1 2.645.476 Wood.et al. July 14, 1-953 

